Call it luck, destiny, or foresight… Marcus Richter isn't sure why he decided to go to graduate school for library research, but he's glad he did.

"I had never worked in a library before in my life," he says. "But I had recently moved to the U.S. from Germany to serve as a pastor. I knew I didn't want to be a pastor forever, so I decided I needed to find something different to do that would connect with the skills I already had."

His lack of experience didn't stop him from thriving in graduate school, where he discovered a love for not just books but the other resources available in the library. After earning his master's degree in library and Information science through St. Catherine University in Minnesota, he became the technical services librarian at Alma in 2009.

"With the overload of information that exists in the world and on the web, my job as a librarian is to help evaluate all the information and find the best sources," he says. "Even if you're a senior, you still can benefit from asking for help from librarians to find the right resources!"

Richter, an assistant professor of library research, also teaches courses not just in his main discipline but also in religion and German. He says interacting with his students is his favorite part of his job.

"I like working at a small school because I'm able to actually work with the students, not just look at books all day," he says. "I like seeing their reactions as I help them develop new research skills, and I get to see them grow as students and researchers."

While Richter has a wealth of knowledge available to him, one thing he still doesn't understand is why some students are afraid to ask librarians for help finding what they need, he says.

"Don't be nervous; we don't bite," he says. "We're here to help and assist—we're your partner in research. And if you don't ask us, who else should you ask? Your professor grades you: we don't grade you."

Angie Kelleher has a love of books in her blood and a passion for libraries in her genes.

The access services librarian at Alma College, who is a daughter of a librarian, worked in libraries throughout high school and college. Despite her history with libraries, Kelleher admits that it took her a while to read between the lines.

"My first master's degree was in social work, so I worked on crisis hotlines, in domestic violence shelters, and with emotionally-impaired homeless teens," she says. "I decided to pursue other career options, and after taking graduate courses in library research, I could finally tell the discipline would be a good fit for me."

Kelleher earned her master's degree in library science from Wayne State University in 2003 and began working at Alma, where she oversees the circulation and interlibrary loan departments. She teaches library instruction sessions and library research classes, and she works one-on-one with students, something she says she really enjoys.

"Even though I'm no longer a social worker, I can still make connections to my previous career and help people, but in a different way," she says. "I get to help students find what they're looking for and then help them understand how to utilize that information, which is very rewarding. I like being in an environment where people are learning new things all the time."

While books are Kelleher's first love, she recommends that students, especially those considering a career in libraries, be aware of the constantly changing nature of information.

"So much information is now available digitally, and you need the tools to effectively use it, whether you're a librarian or a student," she says. "I feel like I'm constantly learning new technology, which helps me to embrace the new information world that we live in."

The academic hub of Alma College, the library, is a place of challenges, toil, and success. Library Director Carol Zeile understands that to a great degree as she was once an Alma College undergraduate. Now she dedicates her time and energy to ensuring that the library is equipped to serve the research needs of students, faculty, staff, and community members. Simply put, Zeile's role is to ensure the smooth operation of the College library, which involves "making sure that patrons have as many resources as possible" while providing them assistance with technology, reference, and research.

Having been a librarian for 15 years at Alma College, 10 years as Library Director, Zeile enjoys the varied duties of her position, which include hiring and training full-time library staff, managing the library budget, planning future technology and services and overseeing the building's day-to-day activities. She compliments her "fantastic support staff" who make the library's wide offering of services possible. "I'm amazed at how much we accomplish with just four librarians," she says of her small but dedicated staff.

Zeile discovered her calling to library science while working in the graduate library at Indiana University, an experience she calls "simply fascinating." After earning her masters degree in Spanish at Indiana, Zeile taught college level Spanish for a year before earning a masters degree in Library Science at Western Michigan University in 1978.

Zeile worked for many years in the University of Pittsburgh library system before returning to her alma mater in 1998, where she cherished the familiar feeling of home. "When I first came back to Alma, it felt like I never left," she remembers. While new additions had been made since her graduation in 1974, most of the same buildings remained, and some professors she'd had as a student continued to teach and mentor a new generation of Scots. Zeile notes that through the years, the atmosphere on campus hasn't changed. Both now and as a student at Alma, she has relished the "Alma feeling of camaraderie, loyalty, and friendliness" that pervades its inviting campus.

Once a member of their ranks, Zeile enjoys working with Alma's motivated, dedicated students. While she and other librarians assist students with research, the real reward lies in "seeing what students do with that information and seeing their development." Yet like many college librarians, Zeile wishes to see more students in the library. "We have something to offer all students, no matter their area of study," she says.

While enticing the entire student body into the library can be difficult, perhaps the most challenging aspect of Zeile's position is prioritizing time, talent, and resources to best serve the library's patrons. Reflecting on technological advances over the past two decades, Zeile notes that "in many ways, librarianship has gotten easier and less labor intensive" due to automation and electronic services; however, at the same time the rapid pace of technology demands that librarians today must have more expertise in a variety of areas. Another challenge is deciding how to maintain a balance between print and electronic resources in the library. Despite an ever-increasing demand for electronic resources, the fact remains that not all information can be found online - a truth that few students seem to realize, notes Zeile.

With its tradition of academic excellence, Alma College would not be complete without the Library and its dedicated staff. As Alma's Library Director, Zeile enjoys "being able to see the total picture of organization" within the library - knowledge which allows her to help the staff develop while improving library services. "I love being in a position where I can support everyone else," she says, reflecting on her first two years as Library Director. Sharing her love of scholarship and information, Zeile hopes that others discover as she has that "libraries are great places - you learn something new every day."